Gyoza: The Enchanting Japanese Dumpling

The humble dumpling has travelled far and wide from China, with chefs around the world adapting the simple recipe with their own unique flavours. The Japanese Gyoza is one such delightful adaptation. A favourite appetizer or snack from restaurants to households, with a variety of umami meat and veggie fillings, enjoyed with a savoury, tangy dip sauce.

Jiaozi vs Gyoza

The bite-sized savoury dumpling is a Chinese culinary invention from about 1,000 years ago, known as Jiaozi. The Japanese first tasted them when they occupied Manchuria during WW2. After the war, the Japanese withdrew, yet the distinctive, charming taste of Jiaozi lingered among foodies.

And, because the dumpling is simple to make, households and diner chefs alike began to create their own tasty recipes. So popular, that it quickly became a part of Japanese cuisine. The name Gyoza is actually a direct Kanji word adoption of Jiaozi.

The Jiaozi is steam-cooked or pan-fried, and has a slightly larger variant enjoyed in a hot savoury soup; the Japanese Gyoza is typically smaller in size, made with a thinner skin, and pan-fried to a light crispy brown. The most basic filling is minced pork, beef or chicken, ginger, bamboo shoots and scallions or other leafy greens. Flavoured with garlic, soy sauce, rice wine, white pepper and sesame oil.

Pretty much every Japanese family has their homemade Gyoza. They’re also a popular side dish in ramen restaurants, served in sets of 6 dumplings. There are even two famous Gyoza towns in Japan: Utsunomiya in Tochigi Prefecture, and Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Packed with Gyoza speciality restaurants, and a plethora of flavours to enjoy, including seafood, mushrooms and other wondrous fillings.

How to Make Gyoza: A Basic Guide

There are two main parts in making Gyoza, the wrap and the filling.

For the wrap, mix wheat flour with salt, stir and add cold water bit by bit till the flour forms a smooth firm dough. Place the dough on a flat surface and knead it into a ball, then cover and let it rest for about 30 minutes. After that, divide and knead it into smaller balls, roll each of them flat, and you’re ready to wrap.

For the filling, make sure the meat and veggie ingredients are minced, diced and finely chopped. Mix them up with your flavouring ingredients till you get a sticky whole.

Spoon the filling onto each of your dough skins, wet the edges with a bit of water. Fold and wrap into the Gyoza’s bite-size shape, and pan-fry them in batches till the skin turns crispy brown.

Yup, it’s really that simple! To save time, you can actually prep your filling while the dough rests. You can also find premade Gyoza skin wraps at Asian grocers and supermarkets.

Here are 4 flavourful recipes to get you started:

Classic Pork Gyoza

The most popular Gyoza with ground pork, cabbage, chives, garlic and ginger. Flavoured with soy sauce, salt, sugar, pepper and toasted sesame oil. Add a tablespoon of potato starch mixed with warm water to make the Gyoza skin sticky and easier to wrap!

Gyoza with Wings

For a crispier bite, try this fun Gyoza with wings! Pan-fry your Gyoza, off the heat. Then add a flour mix to coat the dumplings, and turn the heat back on. Cover the pan with a lid for 3-4 minutes, open and let the dumplings cook till the ‘wings’ brown and peel off the pan. Drizzle sesame oil on the wings’ edges for extra aroma, and continue to cook till crispy perfection.

Vegetarian Gyoza

Bored of the same old salad? Have your veggie-fix in this easy Gyoza, packed with enoki and shiitake mushrooms, cabbage and onion. Yummy as a side dish, lunchbox filler or midday snack!

Curry Prawn Gyoza

As mentioned, most Gyoza recipes are simple. But if you’re looking for a more ‘extravagant’ flavour, this curry prawn Gyoza is sure to whet your appetite. Packed with a tender diced prawn, snow peas and spring onion filling. Made fragrant and umami with a mildly spicy Japanese curry sauce-mix.

More dumpling goodies

Hungry for more delicious dumplings? Come check out the other amazing types and flavours you can enjoy!